A call for white people to remain silent in discussions about racism and discrimation has caused division in France
Audrey Pulvar, deputy mayor of Paris and former TV news presenter, said white people should "keep quiet and be silent spectators" if they were present during a group of black and ethnic people discussing racism.
"People who suffer discrimination for the same reasons and in the same way feel the need to meet among themselves to discuss it," said the 49-year-old.
She said white people should be allowed to be present - but as observers.
Her comments sparked outrage among other French politicians including the president of the greater Paris region Valerie Pecresse.
Pecresse said "no one should be discriminated against because of their skin colour."
She posted on Twitter there was "no form of acceptable racism".
President Emmanuel Macron has previously warned about the danger of "social science theories imported from the United States," suggesting that such ideals could create divisions.
"Everyday people want to put forward good reasons for dividing us."
